New Arrival

Posted Saturday, July 25, 2009, at 5:16 PM

I feel as though I've not done my duty as a blogger during the Matt Holliday acquisition, but it couldn't really be helped. I knew on Thursday night there was almost a 100 percent chance we were getting Holliday, but I wasn't able to blog since my internet is on the fritz at my apartment. At any rate, let me get into some discussion.

I'm a fan of the trade to get Holliday for Brett Wallace, Shane Peterson and Clayton Mortenson, and here's why:

* First, Brett Wallace had no spot to play for the Cardinals. He is a poor defensive third baseman who should play first base, and we all know he's not going to be doing that in St. Louis. He also lacks range and the first step to play in the outfield, so there's just nowhere the Cards could have put him. He would be a liability at the hot corner. You could make the argument that his bat would offset that, but wouldn't that just make him a mediocre player if he's being exposed on the infield?

* Second, the Cardinals are going to seriously pursue an extension for Holliday. And guess what? If they don't extend him and they offer him arbitration for $16 million and he declines, we get a first-round and a supplemental pick from the A's in addition to our regular first-round pick, which automatically replenishes the farm. With Troy Glaus, Adam Kennedy and Khalil Greene coming off the books in the offseason, we will have funds to disperse accordingly.

* Third, this lengthens the lineup tremendously whenever it can look like this on any given night:

Schumaker/Lugo

Rasmus/DeRosa

Pujols

Holliday

Ludwick

DeRosa/Rasmus

Molina

Ryan/Schumaker

Pitcher

That's pretty deadly, which we saw last night when they beat a very good lefty into the ground.

* The move rejuvenates everyone and gives them a new sense of excitement. It's been reported that the Cardinals were texting back and forth to each other when the trade happened expressing excitement for that type of player to come in.

* The move also makes a statement in the division toward the other contenders, serving almost like a scare tactic to show them the Cardinals mean business. After reading message boards for Cubs and Brewers fans, they are not too happy about this acquisition. They know the Cards are now the team to beat in the Central, if not the entire league.

* Finally, as stated above, this makes the Cardinals very much the division favorite. They are now less vulnerable to lefties, they have a potent lineup and their pitching is some of the best in the league. Three of the five Cardinals starters have ERAs in the top 10 in the league (Carpenter, Wainwright, Pineiro), and our bullpen is anchored down with Franklin, McClellan and Trever Miller, with other solid guys in there as well. If we can get to the playoffs, this team will not be one other teams want to face.

On another note, I'm relieved to see Chris Duncan out of St. Louis so LaRussa doesn't feel obligated to play him because of who his daddy is. The politics that went into LaRussa's lineup decisions was reminiscent of Kennett High School baseball in the 90s and 2000s until Aaron New put his stamp on the program. The "if your last name is (fill in the blank) then you get to play," approach is now done in Kennett and in St. Louis. Hallelujah. It's about time.

I'm a huge fan of the trade, I love Brett Wallace and this puts him back in his home state, in the American League. He has a chance to be a DH or firstbaseman for a young team. Billy Beane always seems to nab prospects from St. Louis (Daric Barton and Dan Haren for Mark Mulder). This trade has been a long time coming, and it's great to see Holliday in St. Louis. I only hope he can prove me wrong by doing good outside of his friendly Coors Field. As for Duncan leaving, I hate to see it. He was a part of the core Cardinal's team from the mid 2000's, and all that is left from those 100 win teams are Pujols, Molina and Wainwright. Those weree the days when the Cardinals brought home a W everyday. And now another one of those guys are gone, it's sad to me.

-- Posted by Baseballfan88 on Sat, Jul 25, 2009, at 11:27 PM

Duncan was a key player in the 2006 playoffs, but his power had been sapped after his injury. I respect him for always busting his butt on the diamond, but there's really no reason he should have gotten so many ABs this season.

-- Posted by Brandon Higgins on Sun, Jul 26, 2009, at 11:51 AM

I agree, I just hate to see all the core members leaving one by one. That's just baseball.

-- Posted by Baseballfan88 on Sun, Jul 26, 2009, at 11:24 PM

Sorry to jump into the conversation late but ARE YOU Kidding me how can you be upset with the Cards getting rid of Duncan??? It should have been done long before it actually happened. There are only two Cardinal players I have ever heard the Cardinal Nation ever BOO in St.Louis since I have been attending games 1. Izzy at the end of his carrear and 2. Duncan. If you heard the interview with Joe Buck at the All Star game he stated the same thing. Tony had been keeping Duncan around hoping things would work out and it just was not going to happen in St. Louis. So please don't shed to many tears on Duncan because those of us who are at the ballpark every week don't MISS him at all glad to see him gone.

-- Posted by sandman1765 on Thu, Jul 30, 2009, at 3:46 PM

I was done with Duncan a long, long time ago. Cardinal Nation gave him every chance to succeed until they'd had enough. I wish him the best in Boston, but he is doomed with those fans.